Local man becomes coffee barista

Local man becomes coffee barista

Born and raised on a farm at the foot of Stellenbosch mountain, local man Stefan Petersen grew up in a close-knit family. It was therefore no surprise that his mom recommended he enrol at Bergzicht Training when he dropped out of high school. She had seen the positive influence the organisation had on her daughter, who is one of its alumni. Today Petersen works as a cashier and barista in a Fedics-run kitchen at the AmaMaties Hub at Stellenbosch University.

“My mom recommended Bergzicht to me after I dropped out of school, because I was just sitting at home doing nothing and walking around in the streets,” says Stefan as he admits with a cheeky smile that his decision to come to Bergzicht Training was not his own.

“Actually my mom pushed me, I didn’t want to go, but she pushed me. So I just went to Bergzicht to satisfy her, but at the end of the day it wasn’t just to satisfy her, because now I am satisfied.”

In 2014 Stefan, who was 22 years old at the time, started studying at Bergzicht Training. A year later he enrolled for the City and Guilds’ Professional Cooking and Food and Beverage Service Programme, which is presented in collaboration with The Private Hotel School (PHS).

“My whole family is in the hospitality industry, so it feels like our whole family have it in us – hospitality is in our blood.”

When talking about the two and a half months he studied at Bergzicht Training, he recounts what he enjoyed the most, like being taught how to do laundry by Miss Kathy.

“I always hated doing laundry but after her class I just wanted to do my own laundry. I now know how to iron and pack my own clothes,” says Stefan.

His time at the NGO, he adds, was “fabulous” and allowed him to meet new people who changed his life.

“I didn’t think that such a small group of people could have such an effect on me, I actually didn’t want to leave. I wanted to learn more”.

After completing the theory and practical training portion of the programme at PHS, he completed his work-integrated learning opportunity at Fedics, where he is now employed.

“After my practicals they called me to say, ‘Hey we have a job for you. Are you interested?’.”

Today Stefan is a cashier and a barista, a skill that he learnt at PHS.

“I enjoy working with people because I am a people’s person. I also love working around students. Every day when I wake up I want to go to work.”

When asked what he took away from his experience at Bergzicht Training, he says: “To always be yourself and to move forward with a positive attitude.”

“Bergzicht means a lot to me, they actually changed me. When I look back I was a totally different person from what I am now and I am thankful for that.”

Photo: Stellenbosch local Stefan Petersen now works as a cashier and barista in a Fedics-run kitchen at the AmaMaties Hub at Stellenbosch University. (Marike van der Merwe)